Monday, March 30, 2009

Had great weekend stitching. Saturday was nasty outside so stayed inside and worked on Ink Circles. Got the second square done and am now working on border to get started on third square. I am really liking the colors and the Aida I decided to do it on. I'm going for an old look so decided to use 14 ct fiddler cloth. I plan to finish the project to look like an antique rug. My niece collects southwest art and I thought this would make a nice addition.

Gabbie has a nasty cold and I woke up this morning with a sore throat and stuffy nose. Knock on wood it is nothing as I really don't want to be sick.

Our car goes to the mechanic on Wednesday as it has a bad shake and a clunking sound when I turn a corner. I have a great mechanic in that he lets me make payments on the repairs. I have known him since he was 8 years old so we have this arrangement worked out.

Well, am anxious to get back to stitching so will say, "Have a great week."

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

As I told everyone yesterday, I have put the Snad Castle away for a while and started the Ink Circles. I am loving it but after last night I am very upset. I had set a goal for my self to get the border done for the #1 square so I could work on it today. Well, I got everything to line up and was really excited until I started really counting everything. I counted, recounted and recounted and no matter how many times I counted I still kept coming up 2 stitches short. 2 stitches short!!!!! So I had to rip out over 150 stitches that were already in place. I had worked for well over 3 hours and had to rip-it ALL out. I wanted to scream. I tore all the stitches out and have learned a very important lesson for this project. Count, count, count, count and then recount. I am very excited to actually start my first square. Perhaps tonight.

Monday, March 23, 2009

I DID IT!!! I started a new project before finishing the one I was working on. I haven't really done this before. I know it sounds funny but I usually only work on small projects and tend to finish them before moving on to the next one. I was really getting bored with the browns in the Snad Castle so I have put it away for a while. I am now working on the Ink Circle project. I have picked some awesome colors and am having alot of fun. I just started it last night but am going to work on it all afternoon. It is a gloomy, rainy day here in WI. The perfect day to spend stitching. I will post a picture of my progress later this week.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

I have been working diligently on my Snad Castle but am thinking that I may go against my tradition and start something else too. I really like the Snad Castle but the browns are rather boring and I am in need of some color so I think I may figure out the colors I want to use for the Ink Circles and start that one. In the meanwhile here is a picture of the progress on my project.

I have also been trying to get the picture to complete the Graduation gift. The picture will go to the left of the bear.

I am feeling slightly guilty because my housework has been put on the back burner for now. My neighbors were outside last weekend raking their lawns and I keep thinking, "it is too early, I have time to stitch some more." I will go rake when it gets alittle warmer. Today it is way tooo cold to do it. My stitching calls to me.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

My last two days have been very busy and I haven't had any time to stitch. Tuesday I took my daughter to work to keep the car to gets some errands done but on the way to work my daughter got sick and had to bring her home. She ended staying home all day. She spent the majority of the morning in the bathroom but about 1:30 pm she was finally better. She slept for about 3 hours then got up and ate supper. I was so glad she was better as Tuesday night was supposed to be our night out. We did get to go as she was much better by 6:30pm. We went to a friends house and learned how to play Bunco. We had a GREAT time. We are now a permanent part of the group and will be meeting once a month to play. What a great time. I now know that at least once a month I will get to spend at least a few hours with other adults. I am soooooo excited. Last night was game night for me and my kids. Once a week we get together and play whatever we decide to play. It gives me time with my adult kids every week and gives my son time to do his laundry. Yes, he and his girlfriend bring their laundry to my house to wash . We had a good time but it was late and again I didn't get to stitch at all.Later this afternoon I will get back to my Snad Castle and work on it awhile. I am really liking the pattern. I will post my progress in a few days. So, I wish everyone a great Thursday.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

After getting off to a great start with the Snad Castle (there was a typo on the freebie pattern and I decided to run with it) I ran into a snag last night. I knew when I started working on it yesterday that I was slightly off in my concentration and should have put it away and start on something else but I really wanted to work on it so I kept going. Last night after supper and a trip to the ice cream shop I went back to it. After having to rip out one area because of one mistake I was trying to tie the next area of the chart to the one I had done. It just wouldn't line up. I was getting so frustrated so I went back over what I had done, low and behold, I was off by one row. One row too many. I immediately put it down and walked away. I was so frustrated and didn't want to deal with it. I waited about an hour then went back and picked it up. I did find the mistake and have since discovered that the mistake isn't too bad and I can work around it. (The mistake is in the center tower above anything that would have to be attached to it.) I will pick it up again in a while and see what I can do today. I feel a little more focused today.

Tonight my daughter and I are going out without Gabbie for the first time since New Years Eve. We are going to play cards with a friend. I am looking forward to it sooooo much.

So I hope everyone has a great St. Patrick's Day and remember that even if you aren't Irish you should still get a kiss.

Monday, March 16, 2009

It was a beautiful weekend here in WI. Temps in the 50's and lots of sunshine. I finished what I could of the graduation gift. I did a big OPPS when I calculated the area for the picture. I forgot to convert from 10 ct of the graph paper to 14 ct for the material and I didn't leave enough room for the picture I have. I recalculated and found that I now need a much smaller picture than I have. So now I must get another picture from my niece. Will update when I get the picture. I did get started on my sand castle. I was very excited to start on that one. I do not have a picture of what it will look like completed as I got it as a freebie. I love it so far. Will post a picture soon.

My daughter, Gabbie and I spent some quality time Sunday while we took a ride around the countryside. It was just too nice to be in the house and I'm not ready to tackle my yeard so we decided to enjoy the weather from the car. It was a nice time. Gabbie got her nap and Amber, my daughter, and I caught up on our conversation.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Well, I finally figured out what was wrong with the link that I sent out. A stupid typo on my part. Oh well, I got it figured out, with the help of some awesome people. Last night I worked more on the graduation gift but am torn now because I went to the school website and found that the color blue I chose for the majority of the project is the wrong shade of blue. I have so much of the project done that I think I will just keep going. After all, I didn't have to use the exact color, right? I am still very torn. I just have so much done that I would have to ditch everything and start over. I am anxious to start another project so I guess I will turn off the computer and move to my work space. Have a great weekend!!!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Well, you may be wondering why I decided to do this "blog" thing. Well, I joined an awesome cross stitch group that inspired me to do this. It is a wonderful place for me to keep track of what is going on in my life and with my stitching.

I just started a customized graduation gift for my great niece. She is the first of my mom's 8 great grandchildren to graduate. We are all very proud of her. She actually finished school in Jan. but will be getting her diploma in June.

I am also starting to get ready for Christmas. I have 3 very large projects I am working on and hope to get them done. I will also have a few "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments to do this year but have to wait to see what color scheme I can do them in. I try to keep myself busy and with not having to work, too much, I do have time to stitch.

Hey everyone, well here I am. My first BLOG. Never done this before so please bear with me.

Well, alittle about me. I am a stay-at-home grandma who has the priviledge to live with my daughter and her beautiful 4 year old daughter. I get to stay home and watch Gabbie while here mom goes to work. We have almost a strictly female household. We now have a male kittie that thinks he is King because he is the only male. The other 2 kitties are females but they are treated like princesses. I live in a small town in central WI. I have lived in this town for over 30 years except for the 4 years I lived in CA while my husband was in the USAF. I liked the people in CA but hated the weather and couldn't wait to get home. My family was all in WI so that made the decision to come back even easier. I am the youngest of 3 girls in the family. And even though I was adopted I have never felt like I didn't belong. I was only 6 days old when I came to the family as a foster child and 3 years later became a permenant part of the family. I knew alittle about my biological family and in 1999 I discovered I had a full blood biological sister I didn't even know existed. We met in 2000 and have kept in touch since then. Through my sister I have found out facts that were previously not know so it was a good thing she found me. I married my high school sweetheart in 1981 and spent almost 25 years with him then he decided I wasn't what he wanted and he went to live with another woman. Yes, I did know her and was extremely hurt, but it has all worked out. My life is better and I have my grand daughter to help raise.